Bullpen Report: April 30, 2023

The 2023 version of the Bullpen Report includes five different sections, as well as the closer chart, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

We will always include a link to the full Closer Depth Chart at the bottom of the Bullpen Report each day. It’s also accessible from the RosterResource drop-down menu and from any RosterResource page. Please let us know what you think.

1. Notable Workloads: Primary closers or valuable members of a closer committee who have been deemed unavailable or likely unavailable for the current day due to recent workload.
2. Injury News
3. Outlier Saves: Explanation for a non-closer earning a save during the previous day.
4. Committee Clarity: Notes on a closer committee that clarify a pitcher’s standing in the group.
5. Losing A Grip: Struggling closers who could be on the hot seat.

The “RosterResource” link will take you to the corresponding team’s RosterResource depth chart, which will give you a better picture of the full bullpen and results of the previous six days (pitch count, save, hold, win, loss, blown save).

Click HERE to view the full Closer Depth Chart.

Notable Workloads

•Kenley Jansen, BOS: 29 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

See more about Jansen’s lower back issues in the “Injury News” section below. John Schreiber is the most likely to appear in a save situation if one comes up on Sunday.

•Jordan Romano, TOR: 14 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Setup man Erik Swanson is also coming off of back-to-back days and leaves Yimi García as the likeliest candidate for an appearance in a save situation.

•Alex Lange, DET: 23 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

It’s hard to imagine Lange appears again on Sunday but after a Saturday double-header, the Tigers bullpen is a little taxed. Both Jason Foley and Will Vest threw 21 pitches on Saturday. Middle relievers Chasen Shreve, Tyler Holton, and Tyler Alexander did not appear in either game on Saturday and may need to help out the team in higher-leverage situations on Sunday.

•Jhoan Duran, MIN: 26 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Tagged with the loss against the Royals on Saturday, Duran will likely be unavailable on Sunday. Jorge López has thrown in back-to-back games but only threw 16 pitches on Saturday. He’s probably unavailable still, and that leaves Emilio Pagán as a likely option to appear in a save situation. Griffin Jax and Caleb Thielbar are both on “High Usage Alert”.

•Jeurys Familia, OAK: 29 pitches on Saturday. | RosterResource

Familia has every bad color possible next to his name on the Closer Depth Chart. He has the “On the Hot Seat” red, the “High Usage Alert” blue, and the purple “Blown Save” also has an “L” in it. With a 6.57 ERA it’s probably time for someone in the Oakland pen to step up and start grabbing attention, but who? Zach Jackson and Domingo Acevedo are the next-in-line setup men and either could make an appearance in a save situation on Sunday, but you have to think there’s someone in that pen who will soon start to make a name for themselves.

•Devin Williams, MIL: 4 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

“Reliever on the Rise” Peter Strzelecki has also been putting in work lately and will likely be unavailable on Sunday. Bryse Wilson could have a chance to close out the game on Sunday.

•Evan Phillips, LAD: 26 pitches on Saturday, back-to-back days. | RosterResource

Brusdar Graterol earned the save on Saturday and is also on “High Usage Alert”. That leaves closer committee members Caleb Ferguson and Shelby Miller as the likeliest of arms to throw in a save situation on Sunday.

Injury News

•Kenley Jansen, BOS: lower back tightness. | RosterResource

Jansen gave up three singles in the top of the ninth and the Guardians scored on one of them to tie up the game and gave the closer his first blown save of the year. Jansen looked uncomfortable on the mound after giving up a hit and Alex Cora and trainers came out to check on him. He stayed in the game and finished out the inning, but Alexa Cora said in his post-game press conference that Jansen would be unavailable on Sunday. On the flip side, Chris Martin is expected to make his return and come off the IL before today’s game. It’s not likely that he will jump into a save situation in his first appearance, but he could certainly provide some help to the Red Sox pen.

A few postgame updates:

* Jansen had a tight back. He'll be down tomorrow.
* Bello had a blister on his finger.
* Hernández was unavailable today.
* Cora acknowledged his concern with the back end of the bullpen.

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) April 30, 2023

•Brooks Raley 레일리, NYM: 15-day IL, left elbow inflammation | RosterResource

Raley has recorded eight holds this season in 11.1 IP with a 4.76 ERA. It’s never good to hear about elbow inflammation among any pitchers. Adam Ottavino and David Robertson will continue to share the closer role with Drew Smith operating as a setup man.

A couple surprising Mets roster moves on this rainy Saturday:

1. David Peterson has been optioned to Syracuse.

2. Brooks Raley goes to the IL due to left elbow inflammation.

To replace them, the Mets reinstated Adam Ottavino from the paternity list and recalled John Curtiss.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 29, 2023

 

Outlier Saves

•Nick Martinez, SDP | RosterResource

Martinez had a really rough start to the season giving up 11 earned runs in his first three appearances, but each one was a start. In his fourth start, he went seven scoreless innings and recorded a win. His latest two appearances were each in relief. He threw 50 pitches on Wednesday and recorded his second win of the year and last night in Mexico, he threw 31 pitches across two innings and earned the save. Though the Padres won by five runs, Martinez was awarded the save because he came into the game in the top of the eighth with only a one-run lead. He is listed as a setup man alongside Luis Garcia.

•Tanner Scott, MIA | RosterResource

With both A.J. Puk and Dylan Floro coming off of back-to-back games, and back-to-back wins in Puk’s case, the Marlins needed someone to step up in a save situation. Scott did just that as he faced four batters, gave up one hit, struck out two, and recorded his second save of the year. He also has two holds and a win in 11 innings of relief. His 5.73 ERA, helped by a 4.91 BB/9, doesn’t make you believe he could challenge incumbent Puk for the closer role any time soon. Puk has been solid, holding down a tiny 0.82 ERA through his own 11 IP.

Committee Clarity

•None

Losing a Grip

•None